Please remember that these guidelines are subject to change, as this situation is apt to rapidly change. Personnel includes faculty, staff, trainees, students and visitors who are engaged in our clinical, education and research missions (eg visiting scientists).
I am a student on the Medical Campus and I have questions about COVID-19. Who should I call?
- Call Student Health 314-362-3523 or email Dr. Karen Winters; they will be able to answer your questions.
I am a faculty, staff, trainee (other than a student), and I have questions about COVID-19. Who should I call?
- Call the COVID Exposure/Illness Hotline at 314-362-5056; they will be able to answer your questions.
What are my responsibilities related to COVID-19 in the workplace?
Personnel are responsible for the following daily activities:
- Follow all current guidelines for screening, masking, distancing events, and food and drink.
- Escalate any concerns through the appropriate escalation channels. Start with your supervisor, but if that isn’t appropriate, continue up the reporting chain or report on one of the portals.
- COVID Policy Concerns Portal
- Office of the Vice Chancellor For Research Portal (for research and lab-specific concerns)
- Report any potential exposures or symptoms (see below) and follow any instructions given. Follow all directives provided by Occupational and Student Health, as applicable.
- Follow all University policies governing workplace safety.
- Ensure that your correct contact information is in WorkDay, so that Occupational Health can reach you.
I may have been exposed to COVID-19 or I have some symptoms. What should I do?
How will I know if I have been exposed to a COVID-19 infected person at WashU?
- Information about you or a colleague who is ill or exposed is confidential and will not be shared widely.
- If you are subject to a known or suspected workplace COVID-19 exposure, Occupational/Student Health and/or the Department of Public Health will contact you.
- You may choose to share your personal information with colleagues if you wish, but information about others should not be shared.
- Follow Occupational/Student Health instructions. If you have questions, contact Occupational/Student Health.
Do I need to wear a face mask?
Please follow current guidelines for mask wearing.
I noticed that some of my coworkers/staff are not following all the safety precautions? What are some talking points to redirect behaviors?
- “Do you have a mask to wear? If not, I can get one for you.”
- “We all need to stay 6 feet away from each other. It is hard, but we can all do it. Sometimes we have to help each other remember if we forget.”
- “When you are eating, remember to keep at least six feet apart since you won’t be wearing your masks.”
If I have a positive COVID-19 test from outside of the university what do I do?
To better protect our workplace, personnel who test positive for COVID-19 at an outside facility are required to immediately self-report the positive test result to the WashU Student and Occupational Health.
If I test positive for COVID-19, what should I do next to protect people around me?
An intial positive test (viral) for COVID-19 with symptoms or after an exposure likely means that you have coronavirus and you may spread the virus to other individuals. You need to reduce the risk of spreading the virus by limiting your movements through self-isolation. Follow the procedures detailed on the How to Quarantine or Isolate page.
What does “contact tracing” mean? What will happen next?
Contact tracing is a cornerstone for public health used in order to break the transmission of infection. COVID-19 is a reportable illness to public health agencies, which has an obligation to review your activities and contacts in order to alert contacts of the possibility of infection.
The purpose of contact tracing is for early identification of other people who may have had a significant exposure to a COVID-19 infection and to provide instructions on how to closely monitor themselves for possible symptoms, and whether to self-isolate in order to prevent further spread of infection. The local Department of Public Health has the responsibility to identify all people (including those outside of WashU) who may have been in direct or close contact with a person who tested positive. WashU Occupational and Student Health communicates and co-ordinates with the Department of Public Health, and often participates in the internal contract tracing to determine the close contacts within the University community, by contacting all personnel with a positive COVID test (if completed through or reported to the WU Employee Call Center or Occupational/Student Health). Occupational/Student health will co-ordinate with the Department of Health to contact all WashU personnel that meet the criteria for an exposure.
If you have tested positive, you will receive a call from an Occupational/Student Health nurse or their representative. During this call you will likely be asked to recall all of your close contacts (see definition below) from 48 hours before your symptoms started. Occupational/Student Health will focus on your on campus activities, your contacts, as well as your use of face coverings and personal protective equipment while on campus. Depending on the date of your test and your on campus activities, you may be asked to identify your office or work area for cleaning.
Importantly, simply coming into brief contact with someone who tests positive for COVID-19 does not necessarily mean you have an exposure. Occupational/Student Health in conjunction with the Department of Health will determine your level of risk and appropriate next steps.
If it was determined that you met the criteria and definition of an exposure to a COVID-19 positive person on campus, you will receive a call from Occupational/Student Health. You will need to follow the instructions provided.
Please know that Occupational/Student Health personnel take the confidentiality of your status very seriously and your information will only be shared when absolutely necessary to prevent the spread of COVID to others.
Will my manager/supervisor be told that I’m COVID-positive?
Your direct supervisor will be informed of your COVID-19 status in order to help identify possible contacts. Your manager/supervisor will need to know if you are not able to work, if your manager or others in your unit were exposed, and/or when you are cleared to return to campus.
What criteria is used to define someone as a close contact?
Close contact is defined as being within approximately 6 feet of a COVID-19 case for a prolonged period (≥ 15 minutes) while not wearing appropriate mask or PPE OR having direct contact with infectious secretions of a COVID-19 case (for example, being coughed on while neither person is wearing appropriate PPE). It is important to note that depending on the circumstance, even non-exposures by this definition may be evaluated and tested. This will be determined and often implemented by Occupational/Student Health Sevices.